Kotlowski v. Eastman Kodak Co.

**Kotlowski v. Eastman Kodak Co. (1996)** **What Happened:** Employee Kotlowski sued Eastman Kodak Company claiming the company discriminated against him, retaliated against him for complaining, failed to provide reasonable accommodations for a disability, and didn't pay him equally compared to other workers. He filed claims under several federal and state laws that protect workers from discrimination and ensure equal pay. **What the Court Decided:** The court ruled entirely in favor of Eastman Kodak. The judge granted the company's request for summary judgment, which means the court dismissed all of Kotlowski's claims without a trial. The court found that Kotlowski didn't present enough evidence to support any of his discrimination, retaliation, accommodation, or wage theft claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII, Equal Pay Act, and New York Human Rights Law. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case shows how challenging it can be for workers to win discrimination and retaliation lawsuits. To succeed, employees must gather strong evidence documenting unfair treatment, policy violations, or unequal pay. Simply alleging discrimination isn't enough—workers need concrete proof to support their claims in court.